Littlebury

A picturesque, mainly rural settlement, that stands
on the west bank of the river Cam (or Granta), in the
county of Essex. Its name dates
back to 10th-c, initially recorded as 'lytlan byrig' and
later as Lithanberi.

The small village has many attractive
whitewashed cottages, an ancient Coaching Inn and a
fine 12th-c church. Littlebury is close to Audley
End House and Gardens and the historic medieval
town of Saffron Walden.
Located just 12 miles south from the City of Cambridge and
55 miles north of London.

Settlements in this region date back to prehistoric
times, with Bronze Age and Iron Age relics discovered
to the east of the village. Ring Hill Fort (a few miles
to the south, near Audley End) is thought to date from
the Iron Age, and there much evidence of Roman occupation
in the area.

The parish of Littlebury includes the hamlets of
Catmere End, Chapel Green and Littlebury Green. The
parish belonged to Ely Abbey from the 9th-c, until
the dissolution of the monasteries (by Henry VIII).
An ancient Roman road crossed the parish at Littlebury
Green.

The remains of a moated house near Catmere are
still visible. Once home to the Gate family in the
16th-c, it was then known as Gatemere Hall.

The only pub in the village is the Queen's Head.
Formally a 14th-c coaching inn, it stands on the medieval London to Newmarket road,
which runs through the village (B1383). The
Queen's Head Pub is open daily, offering meals and
accommodation.

The parish church, dedicated to the Holy
Trinity, stands within the area of an ancient Roman
encampment. The earliest record of the church dates
from 1163, with surviving stonework from the 13th to
16th centuries, although it was much altered during
the 19th-c. The most interesting feature is a 13th-c
stone baptismal font, encased in a 16th-c oak paneled
case, with an intricately carved canopy. Services are
held every Sunday.

Henry Winstanly, the builder of the first Eddystone
Light House, situated on the dangerous rocks 12 miles
(19 km) SSW off Plymouth Sound, lived in
Littlebury in the late 17th-c. He was known about the
village as an ingenious
inventor and local practical joker. Sadly
he died in the destruction of his famous lighthouse
in the great storm of 1703.

Dame Jane Bradbury (widow of Thomas Bradbury) founded
a free school in the village in 1585. The school was
provided for free instruction to all children born
in the parish, aged seven and over. The current School
House (shown here) dates to 1865. It closed just over
100 years later, in July 1970, and is now a private
residence.

The village hall is the heart of the community and
a centre for local activities. A number
of community events are run throughout the year. For
further details visit the village website.

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